Islamabad, August 10, 2026: The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and OIC-COMSTECH have agreed to strengthen cooperation on youth empowerment, digital skills, entrepreneurship and capacity building, with plans to establish a joint committee to coordinate initiatives for young people in Pakistan and other OIC member states.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between PMYP Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan and OIC-COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary at the COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad. Senior officials from both organisations also attended the meeting.
The two sides agreed to work together in line with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s vision for youth empowerment and expand opportunities for young people while highlighting Pakistan’s contribution to science, technology, education and human resource development across the Muslim world.
Pakistan’s prime minister also serves as Co-Chairman of OIC-COMSTECH, while the President of Pakistan is its chairman.
The meeting discussed a range of joint initiatives, including participation in the Kazan Youth Forum, the launch of a Digital Youth Programme with a particular focus on training 500 young women in digital skills, and the possible expansion of the Prime Minister’s Digital Youth Hub to OIC member states.
The participants also explored mechanisms to connect the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme with youth organisations across OIC countries. Such linkages would provide opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, entrepreneurship, skills development and collaboration among young people across the Muslim world.
Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan appreciated COMSTECH’s initiatives in science, technology, innovation and capacity building, describing closer cooperation between the two organisations as an opportunity to project Pakistan’s positive image through knowledge, technology and youth development.
He said Pakistan, given its longstanding role within the OIC and the strength of its scientific and academic institutions, could play an important role in connecting young people across member states and providing them with opportunities to develop skills in emerging technologies and digital fields.
Prof. Iqbal Choudhary highlighted the significant potential of the large youth population across OIC member states for economic and technological development, stressing the need for greater investment in education, digital skills, science, innovation and entrepreneurship.
He said enhanced cooperation between COMSTECH and the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme could help extend successful Pakistani youth initiatives to a wider OIC platform while creating stronger links among young professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators and institutions in member countries.
The proposed joint committee will identify priority areas and formulate mechanisms for implementing the initiatives discussed during the meeting, paving the way for expanded cooperation on youth development, digital transformation and entrepreneurship across Pakistan and the wider OIC community.
